FLIGHT, JULY 29, 1932
Girisms from the lour Winds
The Zurich Meeting
A 10-DAYS' flying meeting, extending from July 22 to
July 31 is at present being held at Zurich. The programme
includes events for private machines, commercial aircraft,
and military types, and is divided into a national and an
international section. Of the events of which results are
available, the most interesting so far have been the inter
national military contests. One of these consisted in a
speed race around a triangular circuit, with start and
finish at Zurich (Diibendorf aerodrome) with turning points
at Thun and Bellinzona. The total distance is one of
367 km. (228 miles), and the course was so laid out that
competitors had to cross mountains some 12,000 ft. high.
The race was for machines in two categories: single-seaters
and two-seaters, and was confined to military types.
Great Britain did well in both categories, the winners in
both classes being British aeroplanes. In the single-seater
class, first place was secured by the Yugoslav pilot, Capt.
Sintic, on a Hawker " Fury " (Rolls-Koyce " Kestrel ")
belonging to the Yugoslav Air Force. His time for the
circuit was 68 min. 38 sec, corresponding to an average
speed of 201 m.p.h. Sintic did not cross the finishing line
properly and had to make a circuit of the aerodrome,
whereby he lost considerable time. Second place was
gained by a Polish PLZ 11 monoplane with " Mercury 4 "
engine, whose time was 71 min. 10 sec, corresponding to
a speed of 193 m.p.h. Third was a French " Dewoitine "
with 500-h.p. Hispano. Its time was 75 min. 33 sec. ;
speed 181 m.p.h. In the two-seater class first place was
secured by the Belgian pilot, Gapt. Vanderlinden, on a
Fairey " Fox " (Rolls-Royce " Kestrel "). His time was
85 min. 46 sec. and his speed 160 m.p.h. Second was a
French " Potez 50 " with Hispano engine. Time, 85 min.
50 sec. Speed, 159 m.p.h. Third was a French " Breguet
XIX " (Hispano). Time, 87 min. Speed, 157 m.p.h.
Another " Potez 50 " fitted with the new Gnome-Rhone
K.15 engine flew the course, although not entered, and
thus not competing officially. Its time was 79 min. 10 sec.
Speed, 173 m.p.h. It is gratifying that British aircraft
should have secured first places in both classes, and that
both should be fitted with the Rolls-Royce " Kestrel "
engines. Both were also doped with Cellon.
Herr Gronau Crosses Atlantic Again
HERR WOLFGANG VON GRONAU—who in 1930 and 1931
flew from Germany to America via Greenland—left Borkum
Island on July 22 on a similar flight in a " Dornier Wal,"
accompanied by Herr G. von Roth (second pilot), a
mechanic and a wireless operator. Seydisfjord, Iceland,
was reached the same evening, and they went on to Ryk-
javik next morning. Proceeding on July 24 they landed at
Ivigtut, Greenland, in the evening, and early on July 26
landed at Cartwright, Labrador. They took off again
later for Montreal.
Solo Around the World
FLYING a Lockheed " Air Express," fitted with a
Pratt & Whitney " Wasp " engine a young American pilot,
Thomas Ash, Jun., hopes to beat the record of 8£ days set
up last year by Wiley Post and Harold Gatty for a flight
around the world. Flying solo from New York, Ash plans
to fly over Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and then via
the Great Circle course to Ireland, which he hopes to touch
at Donegal Bay. His first stop will be Cranwell, Lincoln
shire, and then on to Omsk, Siberia ; Nome, Alaska ;
refuelling for the final hop at Edmonton, Canada. No
definite date has been fixed for his departure from New
York, but it is expected to be at the end of the present
month or early in August.
Schneider Seaplane for Canada
THE Vickers-Supermarine S.6B. (Rolls-Royce " R "
engine), which won the Schneider Trophy for Great
Britain, was shipped from London on July 22 for Toronto,
where it will be exhibited at the 54th Canadian National
Exhibition next month.
Farman " Stratospheric " Aeroplane Tested
THE French pilot Lucien Coupet carried out the first
flying tests of the Farman "Stratospheric" monoplane
at Toussus-le-Noble on July 21. This machine, with which
it is hoped to attain an altitude of over ten miles, was
described in FLIGHT for June 26, 1931.
Cruise by No. 202 (Flying Boat) Squadron
FOUR Fairey 3F floatplanes of No. 202 (F.B.) Squadron,
which is stationed at Malta, have just completed a four
weeks' cruise in the Mediterranean under the command of
Sqd. Ldr. H. VV. Evens. The route covered Malta, Corfu,
Athens, Kestelorizo, Famagousta, Beirut, Aboukir, Luxor,
Dongola, Khartum, back to Kestelorizo, Mirabella, Athens,
Corfu, and Malta.
A Baghdad Flying School
IT is reported from Baghdad that the Iraqi Govern
ment intends to open a flying school there for training
Iraqi officers. British factories have been approached as-
to the supply of training aeroplanes, and Sqd. Ldr. War-
burton has been sent to London to make arrangements.
Coast Defence of Great Britain
THE War Office on July 25 issued details of a scheme
whereby the coast defence of Great Britain will be en
trusted to the Territorial Army. The scheme includes the
provision of the necessary anti-aircraft units either by the
conversion of existing coast defence units or by the con
version of field and medium artillery batteries suitably
placed for immediate manning duties in war. All ranks
will in future be required to sign an agreement to come up
for service as and when required.
S.A. Air Force on Active Service
THE South African Government have ordered three
aeroplanes of the S.A. Air Force to fly from Pretoria to
Windhoek to take part in a punitive expedition against a
native chief in Ovamboland, South West Africa. Col. Sir
Pierre Van Ryneveld is in command of the aircraft.
Irish Air Lines
JOYRIDING, charter work and instruction at country
towns throughout the Irish Free State is being carried on
very energetically by the youngest body in Irish aviation,
Irish Air Lines, Ltd. The equipment consists of two Avro
504 K's and a Blackburn " Bluebird," and it has been
found that the " chumminess " of the latter machine is
very popular with joyriders. Already more than 30 centres
throughout the country have been visited, and at present
the fleet is based at Waterford, its headquarters.
High Speed Boats for the R.A.F.
THE British Power Boat Co., of Hythe, Southampton,
has recently delivered two special coast-cruising high speed
" Power " boats to the R.A.F. These were designed and
constructed in a few days under fourteen weeks, and,
despite the exceptionally severe trials to which they have
been subjected, have not necessitated any modifications
whatsoever. They are triple screw boats with peculiarly
light steering devised by Mr. Scott Paine, the owner of
the company. A further feature is their unsinkability due
to a form of construction which does not make use of air
tanks. When delivered both these craft left Southampton
for the N.E. coast some 450 miles distant and made the
journey in only 15 hr. running time.
Transatlantic Communications
ANOTHER step in the speeding up of transatlantic com
munications was made recently when Mr. Maxwell Ayrton,
the famous architect, accompanied by Mr. C. H. Clendin-
ning. Director of the Irish Transatlantic Corporation, an
Inspector of the Irish Lands Commission, and the Gal way
Harbour Engineer, visited Furbough, six miles from the
city of Galway, to select a site for an airport to link
Transatlantic steamer services with the Continent by air.
It is the intention of the Irish Transatlantic Corporation,
if they can secure the necessary co-operation from the
British, Free State and Canadian Governments, to establish
a port of call at Furbough for liners. Passengers and mails
will then be taken by car to the site of the airport, some
two miles distant, and travel to their destinations in
Europe by aeroplane.
National Aviation Day Displays
DISPLAYS in connection with Sir Alan Cobham's
National Aviation Day Campaign will be held as follow: —
August Bank Holiday, Sunday and Monday, July 31 and
August 1.—Ramsgate ; Nethercourt Flying Ground,
London Road. August 2-3.—Eastbourne ; Frowd's Flying
Field, King's Drive. August 4.—Horsham ; North Heath
Farm. August 5.—Reigate ; Rookery Farm, Lower
Kingswood. August 6 and 7.—Brighton ; Shoreham Aero
drome. August 8.—Littlehampton ; Ford Aerodrome,
Yapton. August 9.—Bognor ; Chalcraft Farm, North
Bersted. August 10.—Portsmouth ; Municipal Airport.
August 11.—Southampton ; the Municipal Air Park,
Atlantic Park, near Eastleigh. August 12 and 13.—
Bournemouth ; Castle Lane, near Iford Bridge.
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